Babyshambles: Sequel to the Prequel (Parlophone)

Graham Reid | Sep 23, 2013 | <1 min read

Babyshambles: Fall from Grace

Although the damaged Pete Doherty may
never live up to the promise of the Libertines, this third album with
the very patient Babyshambles – five years on from their
indifferent Shotter's Nation -- goes some way to redeeming him
in his second stab at a career.

It'll be divisive because they can
hardly be accused of originality and the poetic spirit he once
possessed often eludes him, but Doherty and band here sound more
tightly committed on an album of useful diversity.

Among the finer moments is his bruised Picture Me in A Hospital
– which you could imagine Shane MacGowan making even more
excoriating self-laceration – and Seven Shades in which he
obliquely appears to address his happily heroin-dependent state.

Yes,
you can easily tick off the Who, Clash, Iggy and other references.
But when the final words are “it's a minefield out there, my mind
is on the run”, you don't doubt him.

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